Rotary coating and drying apparatus



March 23, 1954 T, S, MGCLEAN 2,672,843

ROTARY COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l i H T TGP/W15,

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ROTARY COATING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 23, 1954 OFFICE ROTARY COATING AND DRYIG APPARATUS Thomas Sherman McClean, Indianapolis, Ind. Application August 7, 1950, Serial No. 178,044

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the application of ceramic coatings particularly to metal articles which it is desired to protect from direct contact with high-temperature gases. In the ordinary method of forming such coatings, an appropriate frit in a ne state of sub-division is mixed with a suitable liquid, usually water, to form a slip or thick suspension, the slip is applied to the surface to be coated, the liquid is driven oif by vaporization, and the layer of nnely divided, dried frit is then fused.

Except in situations where the slip is applied to a plane surface which can be disposed horizontally while the liquid is being driven off, difculty is frequently encountered in producing a dried-frit coating of satisfactory uniform thickness. To overcome such diflculty, it has been proposed to rotate the slip-coated article about an axis during the drying period; but even with such rotation, Water streaks and other inequalities occur with the result that the iinished coating lacks the desired smoothness and uniformity.

It is an object of this invention to improve the uniformity and promote the surface smoothness of ceramic coatings. Another object of the invention is to produce a method and apparatus by the use of which frit-suspensions can be dried Without formation of water streaks. Still another object of the invention is to produce an apparatus of simple and inexpensive construction which can be employed to distribute and dry applied frit-suspensions without the formation of water streaks or inequalities in thickness.

According to my invention, the frit-suspension, in uid condition, as applied in anyconvenient manner to the article to be coated. Before the suspension has dried or set to any appreciable extent, the article to which it is applied is subjected to rotation about two different axes, and is maintained so rotating until the fritz-suspension has set. During drying, the rotation is at a relatively low rate, so that gravity remains a significant factor in determining the direction in which the suspension or slip tends to flow over the article-surface.

Apparatus for carrying out `the invention conveniently comprises a main frame, an outer subframe supported for rotation from the main` frame, an inner sub-frame supported from rotation from the outer sub-frame, and means for securing the article being coated in xed position in the inner sub-frame. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the outer sub-frame is horizontal while the axis of rotation of the inner sub-frame is perpendicular to and coplanar with the axis- 2 about which the outer sub-frame rotates. The inner sub-frame may carry a fan, a blower, or other device for forcing air over the coated surfaces and .may also carry means for heating such air for speeding the drying operation. The heating .means and the means employed to drive the fan, blower, or other device are desirably electrical in character and receive current through a system of brushes and collector rings..

Rotation of the coated article about the axis of either sub-frame may be employed with advantage in many instances to modify the distribution of the slip over coated surfaces before actual drying is begun.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of drying apparatus with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate interior construction; 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus, again with portions thereof broken away; Fig. 3 is a fragmental section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram; and Fig. 5 :is an ele-- vation of a device which may be used in the ini-`V tial application of the suspended frit.

The machine illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a main frame l@ in which a, horizontal, transverse shaft il is journaled. Rigidly mounted on the" shaft il is an outer sub-frame l2 which rotatably supports an inner sub-frame I3. The inner sub-frame is conveniently of open construction and is adapted, as set forth more particularly hereinafter, to receive and support the article I4 which is to be coated. Conveniently, the inner sub-frame it is provided at its ends with aligned stub shafts l5 and ill rotatably received in bearing blocks ll mounted in the ends of the outer sub-frame i2. The common axis of the shafts i5 and iii is perpendicular to and desirably co-l lanar with the axis of the shaft l l.

The particular object i4 illustrated in they drawings as being treated is the core of a heat exchanger such as is used to heat airplane wings by exhaust gases from the airplane engine. Such core comprises a pair of end heads 2l) having aligned inlet and outlet nipples 2l and intercon The nected by a plurality of rows of tubes 22. exhaust gases from the airplane engine enter one of the nipples 2 l, pass through the tubes 22,-

and are discharged from the other nipple 2l. The ceramic coating, for the application of which the apparatus illustrated in the drawing is de# signed, is applied to the inner surfaces of the heads Eil and tubes 22 to protect them from the action of the high-temperature exhaust gases'vv which flow through the core.

To support the core I4 in the inner sub-frame I3, the latter may be provided with an opentopped cradle through the open top of which the heat-exchanger can be inserted or Withdrawn. To hold the heat exchanger in placey I may eme ploy a pair of retainers 26 hinged to the cradle 25 at one side of the top thereof, such retainers being provided .with releasable latches v2l by means of'which theymay be held in closed position to retain the heat exchanger in the cradle. It will be understood, of course, that the par ticular type of cradle or other means for mounting the article to be treated in `the.innen-subframe I3 will be varied as necessary to suit each particular article.

To aid in drying the fritsuspension which is applied to the inner surfacesrof the vheat-exchanger, I may mount on the inner sub-.frame I3 a casing 30 which extends transversely oi the inner sub-frame across the adjacent end of the'heat''exchanger` and which =is 'provided in its sideL-Wlith an air outlet opening aligned with the*adjacent nipple 2'I of- .the heat exchanger. Thefca'sing'' contains .one or `more electrical re sistanceHhea-tfelements32 ladaptedto heat air Which-enters an inlet' opening at oneY end of the casingfand fwhichy is forced "therethrough into thehea't exchangeridlfby a iank 33. The ian 33 is convenientlyA 'driven "by r an electric'motor y'lFortlfiepurpose of rotating the shaft il and the outer :sublframeF 1211rgid 'therewitnl may mount ontheimain'frame lo an electric motor 35 'voperativelycconnected toa lspeed-red cer which is in turn connected?throughihelts'' with aipulley-Son'onesendf-cf thenshaitll I. As it may-lbefidesirable-vin finserting orremoving .the article -1 being coated "to .rotate 1 the outer .subframe.y SI2 manually; the. drive :mechanism f or `the shaft? II..is.desirablysotarranged that it can be disconnected frcmf the=`speed=reducer3ii- To this end,'the:belts31 may beJloOse-enough toprovide foniindeperident rotation of-the shait "I l land* may have :associated with .themifa beltfetightening idler 40 convenientlyv'mounted nearlthe outer end foi aniarm'` 41a pivotallyf attached vto .the main frame |20. .iAfspring@fdzfurgesnthe idlerfll. in the belttighteningidirection totighten' l.the'iibelt 3l suffi-- cienitly tonxestablish-.rthe :driving connection to theatfpiilley" 38. To reelthe1-pulley38`from lconnection'rwith the'-speed" reducer 35, the` arm d I may 'fbee'rswung against-the"- tspringr 42. by: a.v cable 43' extendingfto` fa convenient l'point .at Athe front ofzsthe :mainframe: Mik..whereA it .fis connected to av :leveny 44" fhaw'ing appropriate releasablexcletent mechanisme I5 :operative .to .holdfthel idler "4a in retractedx'position.

tirezy purpose tof: rotating the. :inner .subf-rameisabout: athertcommon :axis of' the shafts: I5 and I6, the .outer :sub1-.frame LIZ carrieszan. electric mctor-5II='conveniently:arrangedfonrthe:subframe.` I 2:-,Wlrth its .axis transverse ithereto. Appropriate I:drive means A.connects :the mctor 5K3 'with a'ifshaft dil, which# extends longitudinally oft;the subbframe' I2f.'-.to.onexend thereoifwhere it :is pro vided-:with fa, Pulley-'.52 v'connor-:ted vby belts 53 with aapulley.- 54.. on the ishaft.: I .6.

,.'Io.-.pnov-ide. for-the 'supply of lelectric current toithe fanmotor 34 .and to the hea-ting elements 32,l the-,shaft ,IBscarries .three collector rings 56,1 and-.751 .with which there cooperate brushes h. 5,6', .and 51' .supported from -the :louter vsubirame I2. .The shaft II :carries lfour collector rings-60,. 6;I ,.\'2, aand..$3 respectively engaged by brushesrf-EOQn-SJ 62', fiand3 mounted .on the mainframe I0. Thefelectrical,fconnectionsxemthe: outer Ksub.frame I 2.

ployed in the device illustrated are shown in Fig. 4. As there shown, one terminal of each heating element 32 and one terminal oi the motor Sri are connected to the collector ring 55, the remaining terminals of the heating elements are connected to the collector ring 5l, and the remaining terminal of the motor 34 is connected to the collector ring 55,v such.. connections being effected by lconductors carriedPoyz-the inner subframe I3. One terminal of the motor 5G and the ...brush 55 are connected in common to the collector ring 6B, the other terminal of the motor v5c, isconnecte'd; to the collector ring tl, and the the switches t3, `A 69, :and '19. permit independent control ofl the heating elements, thefan"motor 34, the `motorzfiiii which rotates the `.in-ner-.-sirbframe I3 inthe outensub-irameI,-andnthe motor335 which rotatesthe .outerzsub-irame I2 and the .main frame II o..

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated .an apparatus which may .be employed init-he initial application Nof the fritsuspensi'on. Such apparatus 'comprises a frame fromY Whicha 'rx/.ertical .uplate-IB 'is supported for1 rotation about .afhorizontal .ax-is. Such. plate 'carriesgmeanssuch .asma :setroi `projectingposts TIIf'adaptedttorreceive: and sup port.' thev core M.: bycengagementvwithf itheiheads 2t. thereof. Intithe lower #portion,ofiitheframe '15,' there is'rnountedza tank I3 v.contaiming-a supply of lfrit suspension@ and uconnectedL through l a conduit 'l with :a :pump'sJB .Which:'idischarges throughy afnexihlesccnduit; 821. ."Theopumpx` 88" is conveniently Yintruder t. the :control of .a :foot-oper.-

ated switch'l 82 To vuse .theSappa-raftusl showninFig; :5., the: plate I6 is :disposed-'as indicated tandwamccre .2M is positioned vertically'ontheposts TI. ".Wthzfthe conduit 8l` positioned .to discharge. :into .the upper head 20, andfwith the lower nippleZitemporarily closed byra-elosurea-; the switch` B'Zfisclosed to Vcause frit-suspension"infthe :tank 18" to be pumped into thencore- I ii. TherclosureatSecon veniently comprises .fai plate faced/zwit'hf sponge rubber or1other suitable .compressible material Afterva sufficient "qnarrtity of'fthe,v nit-suspension has beenppumpedfi-nto the corel .I 4,the spump is stopped, the vleXilol-e:conduit:.'I-V isfrernoyed,Al .a second closure.- A8 3 fisfrappliedrstotheopenz upper end of the core,I andfwith-both :closures: heldin place, Ythe coreyfand plate. arewrotated into. and oscillated.;abcut the. dotted-.line positionfshown in' Fig.- -5 to bri-ng .the `fri-t-suspr-:nsion :into: :cone tact with all ,fpor-tionspo-f theA :innerxsmtfas of the core. When all inner surfacegfportions of the .core havefbeenvcoated, :the Icore.andzthe plate Ira are restored .to `the full-line position shown rin- Fig., V5 and the closures .removed-t0 :llervrlit1 .the exeessirit-suspension .todrai-n the more. Conveniently, the virit-suspension .discharged from the core. passes I.through y,screensli into .an

inclined troughs@ :throughwhich .it lisreturned to :the .rtanklt VSfith` .the :inner.snrfacesfofxrthe 'corezffcoateda as.4 abovadescribed, y...the core. is miansferredttoathe,

machine shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, being placed in the cradle and secured therein by the retainers 2t. In this position, one of the open ends of the core is in alignment and communication with the outlet opening of the casing 30. To facilitate bringing the sub-frames into position for the cradle to receive the core, the lever M is operated to retract the idler lill and slacken the `belt 3l, the lever being released to again tighten the belt when the sub-frames have been brought manually into the desired position. With the core locked in the cradle 25, the Vswitches 6l and 68 are closed to institute operation of the motors and 5t, such motors serving, respectively, to rotate the outer sub-frame l2 about the horizontal axis of the shaft il and to rotate the inner sub-frame i3 about the common axis of the shafts I5 and It. Both rotations, as previously indicated, are at a relatvely low rate-` say about 35 revolutions per minute in the case of an article whose maximum distance `from either axis is about twelve inches-sc that grav-- ity remains a significant factor influencing the tendency of the still liquid slip to iiow over the surfaces to which it has been applied. Because of the rotations of the core I di, the inclination of any point on the coated surface of the core is continually changing in two senses. Ii, as is desirable, the two rotations of the core ld are at slightly different rates, a considerable time interval will elapse, and considerable drying will occur, between passages of the core is through the same condition of orientation with respect to both of the axes about which it rotates. During the rotation of the core, the force of gravity acts to cause a continuous displacement of the frit-suspension as long as that suspension remains liquid; and in consequence of the double rotation of the core, the direction and rate of displacement at any point in the suspension is continually changing. Because of the complex motion of the suspension, it dries into a uniform, smooth coating ready for the firing operation.

During the rotation of the core, the fan 33 and the heating elements 32 may be operated as desired to expedite drying.

Although desirable, and also convenient in the apparatus illustrated, it is not essential that either rotation of the core I4 be a continuous rotation.

Rotation of the coated article about the axis of either of the sub-frames may be utilized, prior to or during drying, to modify the distribution of the slip over the surfaces to which it has initially been applied. For example, in the heatexchanger core illustrated in the drawing, surface tension tends to create a thickened coating at the interior corners of the heads where the square header-plate which receives the tubes 22. joins the peripheral head-Wall. Rotation of the core about the axis of the shaft II creates a centrifugal force which tends to draw the locally accumulated material out of such corners. On the other hand, rotation of the core about the axis of the shafts i5 and It tends to force material toward such corners. Localized variations in coating-material thickness are desirably avoided; for they are subject to thermal shock which may cause cracking. Accordingly, it is of advantage in treating an article of the type illustrated to rotate it first about the axis of the shaft II, while the article and inner sub-frame I3 remain in fixed position relative to the rotating outer sub-frame I2. In such rotation, excess coating material is thrown out of the open ends of the core and accumulations in the corners of the heads are largely eliminated. After such excess material is removed, the motor 50 'may be started to cause rotation of the core and inner" sub-frame I3 in the outer sub-frame I2 without causing an undue accumulation of the slip in the corners of the heads.

It Will be understood, of course, that the precise sequence in which the two differ-entrotetions are .begun will depend upon the character of the article being coated and upon 'the possibility of eliminating or reducing localized accumu-v lations of the coating material under the influence of centrifugal force. It many cases, the two rotations may be instituted simultaneously. When rotation of the article about either or 'both'of the possible axes is employed to modify the distribution of c-cating material, it will usuallybe advisable to delay operation of the fan and heating elements until such modied distribution has been obtained. After the drying operation has begun, such :dow of the still liquid slip as occurs at any point will be determined in velocity and direction by the resultant of centrifugal force and gravity. Generally, the effect of centrifugal force on the direction and velocity of'local flow will not Vary significantly as long as the rotation about each axis remains at a constant rate, but the effect of gravity on both direction Vand velocity of now will be continually changing. At the speeds of rotation mentioned above, the maximum centrifugal force will be roughlyone-half the force of gravity; and, as a result, theresult-l ant flow-inducing force can vary widely in direction to cause a complex flow-pattern which is conducive to the production of uniform coating-thickness and the elimination of water streaks.

Rotation of the coated article about a vertical axis would not change the aspect of any surface portion relative to the downward direction, and hence Would not modify the eiect of gravity in inuencing the direction of local slip-flow. In consequence, the axis about which the outer subframe rotates during the drying operation should depart considerably from the vertical. Most dey sirably, such axis is horizontal, as in the machine shown.

I claim as my invention:

l. In apparatus of the type described, a main frame, inner and outer sub-frames, means supporting the outer sub-frame from the main frame for rotation about a first axis, means supporting the inner sub-frame from the outer sub-frame for rotation about a second axis coplanar with and perpendicular to said first axis, means for securing an article to be treated in. the vinner sub-frame, air-heating means mounted on the inner sub-frame, air-moving means mounted on the inner sub-frame for forcing air over the airheating means to the article, a rst motor carried by the outer sub-frame for rotating the inner sub-frame about said second axis, a second motor on the main frame for rotating the outer sub-frame about said first axis, and means for independently controlling said air-heating means, said air-moving means, said rst motor and said second motor.

2. In apparatus of the type described, a main, frame, inner and outer sub-frames, means supporting the outer sub-frame from the main frame for rotation about a iirst axis, means supporting the inner sub-frame from the outer subframe for rotation about a second axis substantially at a right angle to said first axis, vmeans for securing an article to be treated in the inner y subffmme.: aireheatngmmeans=1mountedon the inner rsubff-ramewairi-imwing means-^.mountedf1on theiimxemsnbffname :for-forcingLairx oyer-f-thevairheat-ingmoansy 1Aso the article; raf -rst motor voarniedfby, the -outersuh-:f-ramefforfrotating zthefinner. sub-frame about said seoondfaxin-asecond ,motor ondhe A#main frame-afm: rotating Lthe'iouten subframe :about said 'rstwzaxm :andmeans for @independently controlling-said :air-,heating fmeans, saidwainwmoving means,-,said rstmoton-.andsaid seoond-motor.

in'iapparatus foff Athe type described, a wma-in mamen-inner and outer-:sub-frames, vmeans l supporting the outerfsubfframe :from therzmainrfram'e forrmotation ffabout sa;firsiiiaxis;l means,- support-y ngathez-innerfsubfframeirom the-outer, sub1-.fname im" rotationf. about; .afseoond :taxis -.substantially at.V .a y.might :angle nto :said -iimst axispmeansffor seouring-,fan'farti'oleto ibe :treated fin :thevilnner: :subfname.- -,air-heating :means mounted'- on fthe innery sub-trama: air-moving means vmounted'. on :the mnerwsub-ramez-or ,foroin'g'; air @Vern-the fai-rheating-means to. the =article,-.means @for rotating the-wouter sub-frame fa-bout.; said. rst-.faxis,; and means for ,rotating the. vin-ner sub-frame, about said y.second axis.

4., The ainvention set; -ionth .inolaim 3 with :the addition that .said two sub-frame :rotating means are independentlycontrollable.

if .In./appa11atus.-of l the ftyperdescribed, a main frame; inner-:fand nuten :sub-frames? means :supporting he outer-:subnframe from fthe main ira-me 8 for-rotation about ea nrst :axis,ffxxixzalns:suppiorllting the inner sub-,fframeffrom 'lthe outensub-fname iorn'otation-iaboutfa second axis-:substantially :at a -ri'ghtfaangle fto said .nst faxis, means yfor -fsecuring amartcle tofibeI treatedfin the inner subframe,..a first drive-:means ziorzrotating theouter sub-:frame :about 'said'.:rst-aaxis," and: a fsecond drive-means for frotating fthe inner sub-frame about theI second axis, fbothsaid' drivemeans :being operablel simultaneously` and 'at least Ioneof them being operable independently fof theoth'er.

f 6.". The "invention set;V forthiginelaim :3 with the addition :that sai'drstz; axis bis; horizontal.

7; The tlinventioniset iaith-2in. claim 5V `withftloe addition thatfsaidi'rstfaxis rhofizontal.

THOMAS f SHERMAN l MCCEEAN.

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